Vision Statement by Chief of Fishermen in Western Region

1 VISION STATEMENT FROM THE CHIEF OF FISHERMEN OF SEKONDI AND THE METRO CHAIRMAN OF THE GHANA NATIONAL CANOE FISHERMEN’S COUNCIL Delivered by Gordon Emmanuel Date: 19th November 2015 Venue: Kingstel Hotel, Takoradi -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The fishing industry employs about 10 percent of the population (that is, fisher folk and their dependents) and the industry provides 70 percent of the animal protein requirements of the country. Ghana is also the 6th biggest fish-consuming nation in the world, making the industry an important sector of the country’s economy. However, despite the presence of numerous canoes, semi-industrial and industrial vessels, the country still imports fish to supplement the local catch due to challenges facing the industry. To enumerate but a few:  Flagrant violation of the country’s fishing economic zones reserved for artisanal fishers through poaching of fish by foreign and local trawlers.  Lack of modern ICT fishing equipment and technology in the artisanal sector (sonar, compasses, etc.).  Limited access to credit facilities and high cost of fishing gear and inputs. Consequently, it is our ardent hope that the fishing industry is given a face lift in future so that it can compete favourably with fisher folk elsewhere through the following measures:  Efforts must be made by the government to make fishing gear and inputs such as nets, outboard and inboard motors and lead floats available to fisher folk at subsidised prices and at appropriate times.  There should be well-defined sources of funding assistance to the fisher folk and easy access to credit facilities.  Landing sites to be constructed in future should have daycare and health facilities to cater for kids of fishmongers.  The Marine Police and the Navy must be encouraged to patrol our fishing grounds at all times to ward off intruder trawlers.

REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Vision Statement by Chief of Fishermen - WR ©NDPC, 2015

2  The National Fishing College envisaged for Anomabo in the Central Region must take off as soon as practicable to attract the youth to take up the fishing vocation and also to infuse modern technology into the fishing industry which hitherto depends solely on the blind fishing concept.  Lastly, there should be a needs assistance survey among fisher folk before inputs are imported so that the appropriate equipment and gear is imported. Thank you.

REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE LONG-TERM NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Vision Statement by Chief of Fishermen - WR ©NDPC, 2015